Just spent a week (supposedly non-birding!) on the banks of La Charente at St Simeux. The birds were pretty expected stuff for most of the time, but had some really excellent views of Golden Orioles, a Short-toed Eagle, a Honey Buzzard and an Osprey. The Kingfishers on the river were exemplary too, as were the Cirl Buntings. Also, having had to endure a daily zitting Fan-tailed Warbler I can now see why some people find them tedious!
What I didn't get good views of was a treecreeper - the damned thing disappeared before I could get anything diagnostic on it at all. I assume it must have been a Short-toed, but the maps in my field guides suggest that St Simeux may be within the area where both species are present.
Anyone any ideas?
I was in Bordeux and Teich last monday, might have passed you.
A near miss, walwyn: we stayed put in St Simeux last Monday, apart from a bit of shopping at Chateauneuf.